The Role of Language Characteristics in the Socioeconomic Attainment Process of Hispanic Origin Men and Women.

Veltman, Calvin J.

Data from the 1976 Survey of Income and Education (SIE) were used to assess the role of language factors in the occupational and income attainment process of Hispanic men and women aged 25-64 in 1976. The SIE contained a relatively complete set of basic language-use questions designed to ascertain the mother tongue of adults, the usual language spoken by an individual, and the presence of a second language spoken with regularity. Data indicated that Hispanic men who did not speak English were more concentrated in part-time employment than other men, while women who spoke English poorly were under-represented in both part-time and full-time employment. Both sexes were further penalized by their inability to speak English after they were employed. Data did not indicate that having English as mother tongue was associated with either net higher occupational or income gains. Unlike Black men, Hispanic men appeared to have occupational and income attainments consonant with their background and educational characteristics. No important differences were found in the relative attainments of Black, White, and Hispanic women with respect to earnings. Findings suggested that the major problems faced by Hispanics were low educational attainment and inability of recent immigrants to speak English well. (Author/CM)